Connor McDavid isn’t hiding how he feels about losing Darnell Nurse. Not even a little bit.
The Oilers captain spoke publicly for the first time since Edmonton dealt Nurse to San Jose, and he didn’t sugarcoat it. McDavid called it “extremely disappointing” to see a teammate he’s played alongside for a decade leave town.
Nurse requested a trade this offseason after 11 years with the organization. The Oilers granted his wish, sending him to the Sharks and dramatically reshaping their blue line in the process.
McDavid and Nurse came up together. They joined the Oilers full-time during the 2015-16 season, both Ontario kids who grew into the backbone of a franchise that made back-to-back Stanley Cup Final runs in 2024 and 2025.
What McDavid Said
Speaking to NHL.com’s Mike Zeisberger, McDavid made it clear the trade hit hard even as he welcomed the new faces in Edmonton’s room.
“It’s very exciting, first and foremost, with the new guys coming in,” McDavid said. “Obviously, it’s disappointing, too, to lose someone like Darnell and the rest of the guys, but it’s part of the business.”
He paused before adding more about Nurse specifically.
“Unfortunately, it’s hard to really put into words what he’s meant to not only me, but the whole group and everybody in Edmonton. So, extremely disappointed to see that happen, but at the same time really excited about some new additions.”
You can hear the honesty in that. This isn’t a guy running through a rehearsed media script. There’s real emotion there.
What the Oilers Lost
Nurse wasn’t just a warm body on defense. He logged heavy minutes, led the team in physical play, and handled the toughest defensive assignments night after night. He also stayed on the ice. Over the last four seasons he missed just seven regular-season games. That kind of durability isn’t easy to replace.
Drafted seventh overall in 2013, Nurse played two games in 2014-15 before becoming a full-timer alongside McDavid the following year. His best offensive season came in 2022-23 when he put up 43 points in 82 games. But his production dipped over the next three seasons, and he went pointless in the 2026 playoffs as the Oilers got bounced by Anaheim in the first round.
That early exit stung. It was Edmonton’s first time failing to get past Round 1 since 2020-21.
Nurse won’t have long to think about it. He’ll face his old team on October 10 in San Jose, then make his return to Rogers Place on January 13.
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